This course surveys the politics of the modern Middle East. Countries covered include Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Other countries will be covered, though in considerably less depth. The course will begin with a brief survey of the political history of the region and proceed to analyze the contemporary period. Topics include the role of colonization and de-colonization, the rise of Socialist movements, religious conflict, ethnic conflict, U.S. foreign policy towards the region, and, to a lesser extent, political economy. Students who have taken and received credit for PSC 248 (Politics of the Middle East) cannot also receive credit for this course.